In January 2026, Gumboot Friday provided 1,311 young people aged 5–25 with free counselling support, delivering a total of 1,928 sessions nationwide. Every session is no-cost, requires no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.
Breaking it down by age group:
- 277 young people aged 5–11 (27%)
- 382 young people aged 12–17 (29%)
- 652 young people aged 18–25 (50%)
These figures reflect the steady, month-after-month work of getting rangatahi into a safe space to talk and finally get things off their chest when they need to.
“I look at these January numbers and see so many young people—some as little as 5 or 6—who got to sit down with a counsellor who really listened, no rush, no judgement, just letting them be heard for the first time in a while probably. That’s powerful stuff for kids who’ve been carrying heavy things.
“None of this happens without the incredible support from Kiwis who donate to I Am Hope. Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, while your donations to I Am Hope keep the Gumboot Friday platform running—onboarding counsellors, maintaining the system, running our Little People Big Feelings programme, and supporting the wider I Am Hope foundation. We’re deeply grateful, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for believing in our kids and making sure help is there when they need it,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.
If you or someone you know under 25 needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.com to connect with a counsellor today.
To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.gumbootfriday.com or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.
